Evolution of the species

I thought it might be interesting to show the process I went through to get to a suitable 3D print for the Baguley-Drewry kit.

From R-L:

The initial Shapeways print of the 60hp, which encouraged me to continue but had some shortcomings.

The first i.materialise 60hp print, which was a step-change in quality from what I’d seen before.

Two 99hp tests to get the width right to fit the Kato chassis taking into account the minimum wall thickness of the prints. This was also at the point I thought the whole cab might be etched. The loco is marginally over scale width but not so that you’d notice, and still narrower than most 009.

The final, decorated 99hp loco. Eagle-eyed readers may spot some of the detail differences between this and the 60hp version.

Not pictured is the test from Sculpteo, which came between 1 and 2 had the least usable finish and solidity. This was sacrificed to the razor saw when checking for chassis fit.

In the background is the rudiments of my “filing” system for modelling projects.

About this blog

Fairlight Works was first set up in 2006, when I returned to narrow gauge railway modelling after a break of several years, to document the construction of an OO9 (4mm:ft scale on 9mm gauge track) layout set at Fairlight around the Kent/Sussex border on the south coast of England. The concept was inspired by the High Weald Light Railway, which was the background to an O16.5 (7mm:ft scale on 16.5mm gauge track) layout called Hawkhurst, built in the 1990s by Dave Holman.

For a time I owned one of Dave's later layouts - Cranbrook - another part of the same fictional railway, but found that 7mm scale didn't suit me as well as I'd hoped. Through various other diversions of scale and theme the idea of the HWLR always stayed with me.

And so after a quiet period for personal modelling, while establishing Narrow Planet as a supplier of narrow gauge kits and etched items, I've decided to once again try my hand at building Fairlight in 009. Hopefully this time with more success.